System and method for implementing intelligent online community message board

Claim 1

An electronic message board system for use by a community of users, which system operates in part on an online server, said system comprising: a first routine running on the server for storing message data; and a second routine running on the server for processing said message data at predetermined intervals to construct searchable collections of said message data, said searchable collections being based on a set of predefined query parameters such that at least some of said message data is accessible to at least some of the community of users; and a third routine running on the server for interacting with a web browser program executing at user computer systems remote from the online server, said third routine being adapted for handling user queries to said message data, said queries being based on said predefined query parameters so that said third routine uses said searchable collections for responding to said user queries; and a fourth routine executing within said web browser program for generating said user queries, said fourth routine including an integrated interface for permitting said user to formulate said queries, said integrated interface including: i) a first display region for providing a visible display of a message list of at least some of any message entries retrieved in response to said queries, said list including at least some identifying parameters for each of said message entries; and ii) a second display region for providing a visible display of at least some substantive information for a user-selected one of said message entries, said substantive information being simultaneously visible with said message list displayed in said first display region, wherein the user can perform searching, listing and reviewing operations associated with said message entries simultaneously within a single window of said integrated interface, said reviewing operation including a presentation to the user of all substantive information for at least one of said message entries.

Claim 7

A system for sharing information between a community of users, the system comprising: an online server having a storage routine for storing messages from such users; said online server further having a sorting routine for classifying said messages based on a rule set provided at least in part by feedback from said users, said sorting routine operating to create collections of said messages that are searchable by at least some of the community of users based on a set of query parameters; and said online server further having a query processing routine for handling user queries to said messages, said queries being based on query parameters so that said query processing routine uses said collections of said messages for responding to said user queries; and a query formulation routine adapted to coordinate with said query processing routine and to be executed within web browser programs used by such users, said query formulation routine being capable of generating said user queries so that the query formulation routine can retrieve selected messages from said collections of messages using said query parameters; wherein the query formulation routine and query processing routine cooperate to allow the community of users to interact dynamically with said collections of said messages; a posting routine adapted to coordinate with said online server and to be executed within said web browser programs, said posting routine being capable of generating user messages that can be posted to said online server in accordance with said rule set; wherein the users can perform searching, listing and reviewing operations associated with said messages within a single window of an interface for said query formulation routine, said reviewing operation including a presentation to the user of all substantive information for at least one of said message entries.

Claim 8

A system for sharing information between a community of users, the system comprising: an online server having a storage routine for storing messages from such users; said online server further having a sorting routine for classifying said messages based on a rule set provided at least in part by feedback from said users, said sorting routine operating to create collections of said messages that are searchable by at least some of the community of users based on a set of query parameters; and said online server further having a query processing routine for handling user queries to said messages, said queries being based on query parameters so that said query processing routine uses said collections of said messages for responding to said user queries; and a query formulation routine adapted to coordinate with said query processing routine and to be executed within web browser programs used by such users, said query formulation routine being capable of generating said user queries so that the query formulation routine can retrieve selected messages from said collections of messages using said query parameters; wherein the query formulation routine and query processing routine cooperate to allow the community of users to interact dynamically with said collections of said messages; a posting routine adapted to coordinate with said online server and to be executed within said web browser programs, said posting routine being capable of generating user messages that can be posted to said online server in accordance with said rule set; wherein the users can perform searching, listing and reviewing operations associated with said messages within a single window of an interface for said query formulation routine, said reviewing operation including a presentation to the user of all substantive information for at least one of said message entries.

Claim 19

A method of operating an electronic message board system used by a community of users, and which system operates in part on an online server, said method comprising the steps of: (a) storing message data on the online server; and (b) constructing searchable collections of said message data, said searchable collections being based on a set of predefined query parameters, so that at least some of said message data is accessible to at least some of the community of users; and (c) handling user queries to said message data by interacting with a web browser program executing at a user computer system remote from the online server, said queries being based on said predefined query parameters; and (d) configuring an integrated interface for permitting said user to formulate said queries, said integrated interface including: i) a first display region for providing a visible display of a message list of at least some of any message entries retrieved in response to said queries, said list including at least some identifying parameters for each of said message entries; and ii) a second display region for providing a visible display of at least some substantive information for a user-selected one of said message entries, said substantive information being simultaneously visible with said message list displayed in said first display region wherein said integrated interface is configured so that the user can perform searching, listing and reviewing operations associated with said message entries simultaneously within a single window of said integrated interface, said reviewing operations including a presentation to the user of all substantive information for at least one of said message entries.

Claim 20

A method of operating an electronic message board system used by a community of users, and which system operates in part on an online server, said method comprising the steps of: (a) storing message data on the online server; and (b) constructing searchable collections of said message data, said searchable collections being based on a set of predefined query parameters, so that at least some of said message data is accessible to at least some of the community of users; and (c) handling user queries to said message data by interacting with a web browser program executing at a user computer system remote from the online server, said queries being based on said predefined query parameters; and (d) configuring an integrated interface for permitting said user to formulate said queries, said integrated interface including: i) a first display region for providing a visible display of a message list of at least some of any message entries retrieved in response to said queries, said list including at least some identifying parameters for each of said message entries; and ii) a second display region for providing a visible display of at least some substantive information for a user-selected one of said message entries, said substantive information being simultaneously visible with said message list displayed in said first display region wherein said integrated interface is configured so that the user can perform searching, listing and reviewing operations associated with said message entries simultaneously within a single window of said integrated interface, said reviewing operations including a presentation to the user of all substantive information for at least one of said message entries.

Claim 23

A method of sharing information between a community of users, said system comprising: (a) storing messages from such users; and (b) classifying said messages based on a rule set provided at least in part by feedback from said users, such that collections of said messages are created that are searchable by at least some of the community of users based on a set of query parameters; and (c) handling user queries to said messages, said queries being based on said query parameters so that said query processing routine uses said collections of said messages for responding to said user queries; and (d) interacting with a query formulation routine executing within one or more web browser programs used by such users, said query formulation routine being capable of generating said user queries so that the users can retrieve selected messages from said collections of messages using said query parameters; (e) interacting with a posting routine also executing within said web browser programs, said posting routine being capable of generating user messages that can be posted to said online server in accordance with said rule set wherein the query formulation routine and query processing routine cooperate to allow the community of users to interact dynamically with said collections of said messages; further wherein the users can perform searching, listing and reviewing operations associated with said messages within a single window of an interface for said query formulation routine, said reviewing operations including a presentation to the user of all substantive information for at least one of said messages.

Claim 24

A method of sharing information between a community of users, said system comprising: (a) storing messages from such users; and (b) classifying said messages based on a rule set provided at least in part by feedback from said users, such that collections of said messages are created that are searchable by at least some of the community of users based on a set of query parameters; and (c) handling user queries to said messages, said queries being based on said query parameters so that said query processing routine uses said collections of said messages for responding to said user queries; and (d) interacting with a query formulation routine executing within one or more web browser programs used by such users, said query formulation routine being capable of generating said user queries so that the users can retrieve selected messages from said collections of messages using said query parameters; (e) interacting with a posting routine also executing within said web browser programs, said posting routine being capable of generating user messages that can be posted to said online server in accordance with said rule set wherein the query formulation routine and query processing routine cooperate to allow the community of users to interact dynamically with said collections of said messages; further wherein the users can perform searching, listing and reviewing operations associated with said messages within a single window of an interface for said query formulation routine, said reviewing operations including a presentation to the user of all substantive information for at least one of said messages.

Claim 28

A method of operating an electronic message board system comprising the steps of: (a) retrieving first information accessible to the message board system in accordance with a variable filtering mechanism, which filtering mechanism is based on information categories of interest to a group of users of the message board system; and (b) sorting said first information and storing it in a form searchable by said information categories; (c) handling user queries to said first information, said queries being based on predefined query parameters so that said information categories are used for responding to said user queries; and (d) posting user message information, said user message information also being sorted such that said user message information is searchable by said group of users using said information categories; and wherein said filtering mechanism is modified periodically and automatically by evaluating interest expressed by said group of users for said information categories; further wherein users can perform searching, listing and reviewing operations associated with said message information within a single window of an interface using said predefined query parameters, said reviewing operations including a presentation to the user of all substantive information for at least one message entry.

Claim 29

A method of operating an electronic message board system comprising the steps of: (a) retrieving first information accessible to the message board system in accordance with a variable filtering mechanism, which filtering mechanism is based on information categories of interest to a group of users of the message board system; and (b) sorting said first information and storing it in a form searchable by said information categories; (c) handling user queries to said first information, said queries being based on predefined query parameters so that said information categories are used for responding to said user queries; and (d) posting user message information, said user message information also being sorted such that said user message information is searchable by said group of users using said information categories; and wherein said filtering mechanism is modified periodically and automatically by evaluating interest expressed by said group of users for said information categories; further wherein users can perform searching, listing and reviewing operations associated with said message information within a single window of an interface using said predefined query parameters, said reviewing operations including a presentation to the user of all substantive information for at least one message entry.